ASA to End Gender Stereotyping

ASA to End Gender Stereotyping

Yay! The ASA's report on Sexual Stereotyping is just released and it shows real understanding of the harm of gender stereotyping and a move to end this in advertising. This includes constantly showing women as 'house keeper' or men as the incompetent parents; girls and boys in traditional 'pretty in pink' or 'engineer and action' roles and so on.

But the ASA really missed a trick. The remit of their report was to look at stereotyping/sexualisation/objectification and socially irresponsible & harmful advertising.

Surely the very worst of this are the porn and sex ads still found in public spaces, like our newspapers. As we've been banging on about for the last year! But this was not even considered in their report.

What About Newspaper Sex Ads?

The ASA (like all media regulators) is a Public Body, legally bound to 'promote equality and good relations' between women and men. We have been explaining to them for the last year that not even investigating complaints about porn and sex ads in public spaces is totally incompatible with this - in fact they could even be challenged in court over it!

The ASA is now looking at how it can be sure it is fulfilling it's Gender Equality Duties